Self-oiling shackle or hanger for springs



Patented Apr. 2 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATELNT" OFFICE.

OLAUDEE. FURGASON, OF LANSING, IMICI-IIGAN, 'ASSIGNOR TO REO CAR GOM- PANY, OF LANSING, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN SELF-OILINGSHACKLE OR HANGER FOR SPRINGS Application filed October 18,1926. Serial No. 142,461.

This invention relates to self oiling shackles or hangers for springs and more especiall to improvements therein designed to simpli y. and render such structures more effi- The invention has as one of its objects to provide a shackle for springs having an oiling reservoir of some capacity together with means for conducting the oil to the several bearing points as well as to the end thrust members. 7

The invention also has as one of its objects i to provide a construction of this character of a simplified design so that the same may be quickly and economically manufactured and expeditiously assembled; V V The several objects, advantages and novel detailsof this construction will be made more of construction particularly adapted for use in supporting the front spring of a vehicle, an a Figure 4, is a vertical sectional view 'through the structure illustrated in Figure 3.

Referring first toFigures l and 2 it will be noted that I have fragmentarily illustrated a portion of the frame 10 ofthe vehicle and a a portion of the spring 11. The spring shackle or hanger is indicated generally by thereference character 12 and consists of a pair of complementary sections 13 f0rmedby casting, one of the sections being provlded with a reservoir 14 for the lubricant, the'open end of whichmay be conveniently closed by a cap 15. ,It is obviously preferable that the reservoir 14 be located adjacent the upper end of a one of they castings 13 so that the lubricant contained therein may flow by gravity to the several points of distribution.

7 Associated with the two sections 13 are hanger shafts 16 and 17, the former providing thepivotal connection between the shackle and frame 10 while the latter provides a means for supporting the end of the spring 11. It is generally customary and de- 7 sirable to introduce bushings 18between the shafts 16 and 17 and the elements supported 7 thereby.

The ends of the shafts 16 and 17 extend into recesses 19 formed in the castings 13 and are j ournaled therein, bushings 20 being preferably located in the recesses 19 for receiving the said ends of the shafts. The end thrusts imparted to the parts are taken up by means of 'disc-hke members or washers 21 arranged in the bottom or ends of the recesses 19. For

preventing the escape of oil which might work its way along the shafts l6, gaskets 22 are provided, these gaskets surrounding the shafts 16 and 17 and reposing in recesses 23, providedin the castings 13 for that purpose.

Each of the shafts 16 and 17 is provided with a longitudinally extending bore or passageway 24 and with cross'passage-ways 25.

These cross passage-ways coincide with apertures 26 formed in the bushings 20, thelatter communicating with passages 27 provided longitudinally of each casting 13. Each of the end thrust members 2l.is provided witha centrally arranged aperture 28 and in this manner, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2, the lubricant introduced into the reservoir 14 may flow through the several-passages and The apertures 28 arranged in the end thrust members 21 permits these members to be enclosed in a film of oil thus minimizing the effects of any end thrusts to which the parts are subjected. Obviously the lubricant flows first into the bore 24 of the shaft 16 and then through cross passages 25 and apertures 26 into the passages 27 formed in the castings 13 and from these latter passages into the bore and cross passages of the lower shaft 17.

As previously described the shackle or hanger comprises two complementary castings 13, each of which is provided with a sleeve-like extension or projection 29 which in theassembled position of the parts are "opposed with the end faces thereof abutting.

Thus the two shackle parts 13 may be conapertures to each of the points in the structure which require lubrication.

veniently united by means of a clamp bolt 30 extending transversally through the tWo castings and secured in place by nuts 31. The clamping pressure exerted by the bolt and nuts .is resisted by the two castings 13, the

.lengthof the extensions 29 being so selected that when the parts are assembled and secured in position, as illustrated in Figure 2, a clearance is provided between the ends of the vehicle frame and spring and the adjacent faces of the castings 13.

If it is found desirable, gaskets or the like 32 may be interposed between the nuts 31 and the adjacent faces of the castings 13 While a asket or packing member 33 may also be provided around the bolt 3 Oatt-he' abutting faces of the extensions 29"; VVhi'le these last described gaskets or' pac'kin gs are usually found as be unnecessary they, nevertheless, Willins'ure' the absence of any leakage of the lubricant along the bolt 30.

It is obviously a simple matter to assemble the shaekle as the shafts 16 and 17 ma be engaged respectively with the frame 10 and the spring 11 whereupo the two castings 13 be engaged With the projecting ends of these shafts and secured together as a unit by ineaiisof the bolt 30am. nuts 31. When thereafter the reservoir 14 and as a consequence the several passages are filled with lfubi'ic'ant it has been found that the shackle doesnot need further attention, insofar as lubrication is concerned, for many months, the oil flowing as needed to the several beariiig points until the entire supply is eX- hausted. i

In Figures and 4 a slightly modified construction is illustrated, the reference character 1 0" indicating the frame of the Vehicle and 11' the end of the spring. This structure is particularly desi ned for supporting the end of the front spring ofthe vehicle and comprises a iiiain casting indicated generall by the reference character 34 and a pair of complementary castings or cap-like members 35. The casting 34 is formed ivith a bracket portion 36 secured as at 37 to the frame 10 and with a hanger or supporting portion 38. The o'p jose'd faces of the castings 34 and are formed with semi-circiilar recesses to receive and accommodate bearing members 39. The castings or cap members 35 are secured in place vith reference to the casting 34 by means of bolts 40.

The bearing members 39 are cup-shaped and are each provided ivith a laterally eX- tending peripheral flange 41 which seats in an annularrecess formed in the castings 34 and 35. This prevents axial displacement of the bearing iembers when the two castings are united by the bolts 40. A hanger shaft=42 is employed, the ends of which are ournaled in the bearing members 39. Gaskets 43 surround the shaft 42 and are arranged in recesses formed in the peripheral faces of the bearing members 39. A bushing 18 will preferably be provided between the spring 11 and the shaft 42. One of the bearing members 39 is apertured and connected thereby to the lubricant reservoir 44. The shaft 42 is provided with longitudinally extending bore 45 and cross passages 46. Thrust members 47 are also arranged at the ends of the shaft 42 in the same manner as previously described.

Obviously lubricant introduced into the reservoir 44' will flow to the several points Where the presence of lubricant is desired and as in the previously described construction the thrust members 47 will be enclosed in a film of oil with the described advantageous results. The asseiiibiihg of this form of the invention may also be ac'coin hshedwith ease and facility as will be readily apparent.

After theshaft 42 has been connected ivit'h' the and or the s rin the bearin members 39 may he engaged with the eiicis t ere-pi whereupon the castings or eaphiehiber's 35 may be secured in place to lock the several pairs together. While in the preceding description two iiibifdiiiierlts hi the invention haveheeii desn'ibe'd soineivliat in detail it Will be at once readily apparei'it that the invention is capable of nnme'ioiis changes in many of the essential and all of the non-essential details Without depai' ing from the spirit and scope thereof, and as this end reservation is made to" make siieh changes as may come it'ithin the parv'ie'w of t-he'a'ccompanyirig claims.

What I claim as invention is 1. In a hanger foriehicle spri gs, body member, hang-e1- shaft jo'iirhale'd therein, disk like end thrust members flatly engaged by said body member and the ends of said shaft, av lubricant reservoir, said shaft and th 1st members being formed with communin'g passages eenhectecl te said reservoir whereby lubricant is conducted to' the bearings of said shaft and the thrust members therefor. 2. A hanger fofivehic'le'springs comprisihg a pair" ofsec'tions having recessed terminals pfovided with closed Olitl sides, bushings in said recessed termnials, shafts ournaled in sald bush ngs, said sections, said bushings, said shafts being previded with communicating passages for cdiiducting a lubricant to the bearings for said.

shafts, thrtlst members flatly engaged by the ends or said shafts and the closed ends said recessed terminals and being provided with lubrieant passages communicating with said first-named passages, and a hibr ieator harried by one of said recessed termin ls and having communication with said luhrieant passages.

3. A hanger for vehicle springs comprising a air of sections having" reees'sd terminals provided with elosed outer sides, bushings in said recessed terminals, shafts journaled in said bushings, said sections, said bushings, and said shafts being provided with communicating passages for conducting lubricant to the bearings for said shafts and to provide for a complete circulation of the lubricant through said sections, said bushings and said shafts, and means for supplying a lubricant to said passages.

4. A'hanger for vehicle springs compris ing a pair of complementary sections having their corresponding end portions arranged in spaced relation and provided with cooperating bearings, shafts journaled in said bearings, said sections and said shafts having communicating passages for conducting lubricant to the bearings for said shafts and to provide for the circulation of the lubricant between said sections and said shafts, and means for supplying lubricant to said passages.

5. A hanger for vehicle springs comprising a pair of complementary sections having their corresponding end portions arranged in spaced relation and provided with cooperating bearings, shafts journaled in said bearings, said sections and said shafts having communicating passages'for conducting lubricant to the bearings for said shafts and to provide for the circulation of the lubricant between said sections and said shafts, and a lubricator carried by one of said sections for supplying a lubricant to said passages.

6. A hanger for vehicle springs comprising a pair of complementary vertically disposed sections having their corresponding upper and lower end portions arranged in spaced relation and provided with cooperating bearings, shafts journaled in said bearings, said sections and said shafts having communicating passages for conducting lubricant to the bearings for said shafts and to provide for the circulation of the lubricant between said sections and said shafts, and a lubricator formed integral with one of said sections adjacent the upper end thereof for supplying lubricant to said lubricant con ducting passages.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CLAUDE E. FURGASON. 

